NB Liquor releases fourth-quarter results

Significant growth experienced in several areas

FREDERICTON, N.B. – NB Liquor has released its unaudited results for the quarter ended April 1, 2018.

Total sales for the quarter were $90.4 million, 11.1 per cent higher than the quarter ended March 26, 2017.

Key product sales trends for the fourth quarter were:

– wine sales grew 13.2 per cent, up $2.5 million;

– spirit sales increased 11.4 per cent, up $2.3 million;

– beer sales increased 9.2 per cent, up $3.5 million; and

–coolers and ciders increased 22.5 per cent, up $900,000.

“NB Liquor has experienced a great fourth quarter,” said Brian Harriman, president and CEO of NB Liquor. “We have grown the business by $9.1 million in sales versus the same quarter last fiscal. Fourth-quarter results were higher than last year's fourth quarter which was driven by well-planned marketing programs like the Expérience Wine program and our everyday beer price offer.”

NB Liquor is a provincial Crown corporation responsible for the purchase, importation, distribution and retail activity for all alcoholic beverages in the province. It serves the public and licensees through 41 corporate retail outlets, 87 private agency store outlets, and wine in 44 grocery stores. Its product portfolio comprises 1,938 products, including wines, spirits, beers and other products, such as cider and ready-to-drink products.

Over the course of the last 42 years, NB Liquor has built a network of stores in 33 communities around the province and employs about 620 people.

The corporation also released the expenses of the board of directors and of the president and chief executive officer for the fourth quarter. The expenses are available online.